Teachers union files labor complaint against school committee

Saturday

Nov 16, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By Kim Ring, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

SPENCER — The Spencer-East Brookfield Teachers Association has filed a complaint with the state Department of Labor Relations after a school committee member chastised the teachers for filing grievances during a fiscal crisis.

According to the complaint, the union believes the school district has "clearly and patently refused to honor" part of its collective bargaining agreement that relates to salary "lane" movements that would result in pay increases based on education and years of service.

The teachers also charged that comments by Vincent P. Cloutier related to the filing of grievances were "inflammatory" and stirred "public sentiment against the union members." The comments also affected the ability of the union to exercise "their rights to enforce a collective bargaining agreement" and violate state law.

Mr. Cloutier, angered that the union has filed several grievances, at least one of which related to increased salaries, said the action was like "spitting on the voters," who had rejected an override and would later approve a compromise budget at a regional meeting.

He told the union there would be a war as a result of the grievances.

The state is now poised to take over the district's finances and could set the school budget as early as next week.